Improved device for gripwg screw-blanks



UNITED Sra'rnis DUSTIN F. MELLEN, ornnw YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent'No. 58,446, dated October 2, 1866.

To all whom it mayl concern:

Be it known that I, D. F. MELLENJ, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements i-n Screw Machinery, consistingof ar spindle to'be used in threadingmachines, shavingmachines, or other places where said spindle is applicable; and I do hereby declare and 1 by'two screws.

ascertain my said invention, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the spindle. Fig. 2is a portion of the front end of the spindle complete. Fig. 3 is an outline of the spindle with the rings, Sto., removed. Fig. 4 is a section at a: .r of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section at y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section at z z, Fig. 2.

My improved spindle is intended to sieze and hold the blanks for metal screws and other like articles, and revolve them against the cuttingtools in the several 'processes of manufacture, where it is applicable.

A The construction is as follows: l form my spindlein two parts, divided on one side of the plane of the axis, the division-line being indicated bythe number 1. It extends back as far as 2 (see Fig. 3,) which shows the exterior outline of the spindle with the rings and other outside parts removed. This spindle is made hollow, as clearly indicated at 3, Fig.1`. In the front end of the recess a pair of forceps, 4, are placed, the jaws of which extend to the fron-tend of the spindle. These jaws are formed to grasp the article to beheld by them, as indicated by the dotted lines, showing the outline of the head of a screw-blank. The fulcrum or pivot of these forceps 4 is at- 5, and the Shanks run back some distance, as shown in the drawing, Fig. 1,within the recess, in which also there is a spring, 6, that bears on the shanks of the forceps on each side, to hold the jaws open. Just behind the forceps 4 is placed another pair, 7. The jaws of these are between the shanks of the others, as seen in Fig. 1, and bear against them, which action closes the jaws of forceps 4. The fulcrum of forceps 7 is at S, and is adjustable in a manner hereinafter described. The shanks of these forceps project back and bend outward, so as to extend beyond the outer surface of theJ spindle, through which there is an openin g for the purpose. By bearing these projecting shanks inward, it will be seen their jaws open against the shanks of forceps 4 and close their jaws upon the article inserted between them. `As this has tobe done while the spindleis in rapid revolution, a peculiar apparatus to ef feet this will be hereinafter described.

The two halves of the spindle are connected The front screw 5 serves to pivot forceps 4. The screw 9 simply connects the other end. The parts are firmly bound4 together, first, by a nose-piece or ring, 10, screwed onto thefront end of the spindle and beveled off to the proper shape. Directly behindthis ring 10, I put on a hardened steel ring, 11, which is formed thicker at the cen= ter than at the edges, so as to have two conical surfaces. This forms the front bearing of the spindle and revolves in double boxes l2, so made as to be set up as the parts wear, to insure accuracy in ruiming the spindle. This device is seen in Fig. 1, and is important.

A ring, 13, is put onto the spindle over the point where the fulcrum 8 of the forceps 7 is. This fulcrum is made to project through oblong holes in the spindle, (seen by dotted lines iu Fig. 2,) and is rinly secured by screws to said ring. On each side of the ring 13 are nuts screwed onto the spindle, by which' the ring can be moved either way, and firmly set so as to adjust the fulcrum 8 of the forceps 7, as required, to regulate the gripe of the forceps 4 in using different sized wire, and to com pensate for wear.

The pulley for driving the spindle may be placed just behind this ring 13, and near the rear bearing of the spindle may be placed gearwheels 14 17, to gear with other parts of the machinery. The rear bearing is at 15, and consists of a hardened ring embracing the spindle and running in a box, 16, so made as to be tightened as the parts wear, but straight and cylindrical on the wearingsurtace, so as to allow end play for expansion, Ste. The only other part essential to the working of the spindle is the apparatus that opens and closes the forceps 4, by acting on the projecting shanks of forceps 7. It consists ofa ring, 18, on the outside of which are two trunnions or lugs, by means of which said ring can be made to slide sidewise by any of the ordinary shift movements on the spindle. This ring does not revolve with the spindle; consequently, when it cornes in contact with the shanks of the forceps 7, over which' it slides to depress them while they are in rapid revolution, the parts would soon wear so as to be inoperative. To obviate this I form a recess within the ring,

`ou its inner face, and insert therein a hardened steel ring, 19,'which alone comes in contact with the shanks of the forceps, and as this `ring is loose and free to revolve in the outer one, as soon at it binds upon the forceps it takes their motion, and produces no wear eX- cept simply slipping on and off between those parts, and it will be not-iced that, however much it becomes loose in the outer ring, its action on the forceps is not affected. When this ring 19 is slipped onto the shanks of forceps 7 the jaws of forceps 4 are closed thereby, and when it is slipped off they are opened by springs b.

Having thus fully described my improvements in spindles of screw and other like ma'- chinery, what I claim as new, and for which I desire to secure Letters Patent, is-' 1. A, hollow spindle, in which forceps or some other analogous device is placed, made in two parts by a longitudinal division, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The adjustable fulcruin S, for the adjustment of the forceps, regulated by the screwnuts around the spindle, by which itis shifted and held, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. Inserting folding springs 6 within lthe spindle, to open the jaws of the forceps, constructed, arranged, and combined with the forceps and spindle, as and for the purposes set forth, it being understood that I do not claim springspcr se, to open the jaws of the forceps, they having' before been essayed, but in a differentA way and of different construction.

4. The hardened steel bearin gs 1l, combined with the spindle and box 12, substantially as herein specied.

5. rIhe hardened bearing and box 15 and i6, in connection with a forward bearing that will not allow end chase., constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The sliding ring 1S, and hardened ring 19, for closing the forceps, substantially as herein set forth.

DUsrrN r. MELLEN. Witnesses:

J. J. GRnENoUGr-r, J. G. CLARKE. 

